The story of Steinrücken

Originally posted 7/12/2009


Although I started this blog to describe the evolution and construction of Bad Horn, my layout polyamory can mean that there are gaps in progress on any one project. As I'm just about decided that Bad Horn will be set circa 2000, and Steinrücken is firmly set in that period, it makes sense to me to lump them into the same blog.

I hope to set the scene for you a little. The town of Steinrücken lies roughly central on the Baltic island of Rügen, approximately 8km south west of Bergen auf Rügen. The name Steinrücken means "Stone ridge", although the rise in the land that grants its name is really not very notable, just a gentle chalk hill (Actually, the name is just a play on "Rock Ridge" from Blazing Saddles). Although only having a population of approximately 2750, most Eurocity, Intercity and InterRegio services halt to connect with a branch line serving Güttin, Dreschwitz and Gingst. Until 1968 the Rügensche Kleinbahn (Rügen narrow gauge railway) also linked the town to Garz, though little trace remains to the untrained eye.

The main line service has a half-hourly Regional Express service forming the backbone of services, travelling to/from Stralsund on the mainland and alternating between Binz and Sassnitz on the island. Although normally 143s and double deck stock form these services, modernisation of stock sees 219s and Halberstadts drafted in during the summer to maintain capacity. Eurocity, Intercity and InterRegio services bring holidaymakers to the resort town of Ostseebad Binz, and some InterRegios additionally serve the ferry terminal at Mukran, sometimes carrying on aboard ships to Sweden, sometimes merely terminating there. This line is also served by Regionalbahn trains from Bergen, although these trains cannot be seen in Steinrücken. Long distance services come from a range of origins, both domestic and International- Vienna and Brno despatch full rakes of Czech stock to Binz. The reversal in Stralsund sees a variety of traction dropping onto the EC/IC/IR trains, from typical high speed locomotives of classes 101, 103 and 120, to Autozug 115s on rare daytime revenue duties. The InterRegios tend to be in the care of LEW electrics, 112s, 143s and even 155s appearing. Overnight trains see Auto- and Nachtzug trains arriving in the morning and leaving in the evening. As well as DBAG locomotives, Westfälische Almetalbahn 109s operate some trains from Berlin, including Swedish coaches. The Gingst branch is normally in the care of a 628/928 DMU, but in the summer months 202s/204s and Halberstadts can appear if there is a stock shortage.

Being a holiday destination, there are plenty of special trains! I have noted VT18.16, VT11.5, SVT137, V200 amongst many other less exotic types on such services.

The island is not without freight, although most is through traffic to Sweden and Russia- train ferries from Mukran serve both countries. Mixed trains are the norm, Shimmns steel wagons and various types of ferryvan dominating. Other wagon types do put in a showing, including various gondolas and bogie timber wagons, plus new caravans on flats, as well as container traffic. 155s dominate, although 140s and 232s can also be see regularly. Shunting and trip workings are in the care of 298s and 346s, some trains staging in the small yard at Steinrücken to pick up and set down wagons for the branch.

There is a large amount of livery variation, albeit shades of red on locomotives. Many can be seen in their pre-DBAG liveries, "bordeaux red" in the case of many ex-DR locomotives, plus the newer orient red and the latest traffic red. Carriages are in a mixture too, mint green dominating the regional stock, and a mix of IC, IR and ICE livery on others. There are not many uniform rakes!

That's the fiction out of the way. I don't expect me to have everything right, and I'm incorporating services running a year or two either side of 2000. Any insights would be greatly welcomed, either pointing out obvious mistakes or suggestions on how to set the scene better. Next up, the story so far of the layout!